Music-leaf turner



I J. F. ELLIOTT May 13, 1924.

MUS IC LEAF TURNER Filed March 4 .1 2? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (3 n we Mint .liEZLioR,

May 1924.

. J. F. ELLIOTT MUSIC LEAF TURNER Filed March 4 1 22 2 Shee1s$heet 2 mucntoz J1 E Z H013 Patented May 13, 1924.

UNITED STATES JAMES F. ELLIOTT, OF KELLERMAN, ALABAMA.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

Application filed March 4, 1922. Serial No. 541,146.

: ing a plurality of leaf turning elements and means for alternately releasing one of the elements and locking the remaining elements against movement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this character having novel means for actuating the leaf turning element, the said means being encased whereby a turner of neat appearance will be produced.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this character which contains the desirable features of simplicity, durability and efficiency, and furthermore a device which may be manufactured at a nominal cost.

Other objects of this invention will appear as the specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical central section taken through the shaft;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 83 of Figure 1.

And Figure 1 is a fragmentary detail view of one'of the frames and spring for swinging the same.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my invention comprises a base 1 which is in this instance a rectangular frame formed of any suitable material such as wood or the like. Rigidly mounted in the base 1 and connecting the end walls thereof is a shaft 2, the opposite extremities of the shaft being threaded to engage the end portions of the frame. Swingingly mounted upon the shaft 2 adjacent its opposite extremities are a plurality of music turning frames 3, each of which are formed from a single length of wire bent upon itself in the form of a U and having the opposite ends thereof offset in opposite directions as at 4 terminating in circular bends which form the eyes 5. In the present instance I have shown three of the music turning frames, the eyes of which are arranged in superimposed relation upon the shaft 2, it being understood that the eyes are offset to such a degree as not to interfere with the swinging movement of the frames as will be understood. The walls of the eyes 5 are provided with circular grooves 6 upon their upper faces, in each of which, is mounted the coil springs 7, the outer end of the spring being secured to the walls of the groove while'the inner end is secured to the shaft. It will be understood that the springs are connected as to cause the frames 3 to swing from right to left upon the shaft, the springs within the respective grooves actuating the respective frame.

Surrounding the shaft 2 and rigidly secured thereto is a sleeve 8 which has its opposite ends engaging the eyes of the innernost frame whereby the eyes will be held in contiguous relation to each other at all times. Pivotally mounted. upon the upper end of the sleeve 8 is one end of a rod 9 which extends longitudinally of the sleeve and has its free end terminating in an angularly offset portion 10 which is adapted to be inserted in a latch member 11 formed in the lower end of the sleeve. This rod 9 serves to hold the book or sheet of music upon the base, the rod being withdrawn from the latch and swung upwardly to permit the insertion of the music whereby the rod is swung down wardly and inserted with the latch to securely hold the music as will be understood. A spacing element 8 is received upon the upper end of the shaft 2 and engages one of the ears 5 whereby to hold all of these ears against vertical movement on this rod. A coil spring 8 is arranged upon the lower end of the rod 2 to be attached to the shaft 2 and likewise serves to hold these ears against vertical movement.

To securely hold the sheets or leaves of music upon the music turning frame 3, I provide each of the frames at their vertical portions with a pair of inwardly extending spring clips 12, the outer ends or operating ends being disposed eXteriorly of the frames. In this instance the clips comprise a pair of spring members having their inner ends arranged normally in contacting relation while the outer ends are arranged in spaced relation whereby upon compressing the outer ends towards each other, the inner ends will be opened to receive the music.

To hold and release the music carrying frames 3 as the operator may elect, I have provided the upper end rail of the base 1 with a substantially U-shaped bracket 14, the opposite extremities of which are secured to the rail in any suitable manner. This bracket 14 is preferably disposed at one side of the shaft 2 and has one of its ends mortised to provide an angular shoulder 15. Pivotally mounted upon the mortised end of the bracket 15 is a lever 16 which is secured to the bracket at its medial portion by means of a screw 17. The lever 16 is normally adapted to lie in parallel relation to the upper end of the base 1 and has one end thereof disposed between the parallel portions of the bracket while the opposite end extends to one side ofthe bracket. The end disposed between the parallel portion of the bracket is provided with a coil spring 18, the opposite ends of which are secured to the horizontal portion of the bracket. This spring serves to normally retain the lever in horizontal position. The lower horizontal edge of the lever 16 is provided at its opposite ends with depending lugs 19 and respectively, the lugs 19 being relatively longer than the lugs 20 as is clearly shown in the drawings.

These lugs 19 and 20 are adapted to engage the frame 3 to hold the frames against swinging movement, and as shown in F ig ure 1, when the lever 16 is in horizontal position, the lugs 19 will engage one of the frames 3 to hold the same against swinging movement. When it is desired to release the frame held by the lugs 19, the lever is rocked upon its pivot so as to move the lugs 19 upwardly whereby the frames will be released and the lug 20 caused to move downwardly to engage the succeeding frame and thereby hold the remaining frames in locked position. When pressure upon the lever is discontinued, the coil spring 18 will pull or move the lever back to horizontal position. In providing one end of the bracket with a shoulder 15, the upper edge of the lever 16 will engage the shoulder 15 to limit the rock ing movement of the lever in either direction. To actuate the lever 16 to move the lugs 19 and 20 from a remote point, I provide the upper and lower edges of the lever at points adjacent its opposite ends with flexible members 21 and 22 respectively. These flexible members are in the form of cords, the member 21 being particularly useful when applying my music leaf turner to a musicstand, whereby the cord will be of such a length as to be readily actuated by the foot of the operator so that lie-may continue the playing of the music without stopping to turn the leaves. The cord 22 is adapted to be used when applying my device to a piano or organ, the cord being extended around the instrument and having its free end disposed in proximity of the operators foot whereby he may actuate the lever to release the frame.

It is thought from the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings that the construction and operation of my device will be apparent to those skilled in the art and that minor changes in size, shape and pro-portion and minor details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is i In a music leaf turner, a frame, a plurality of music leaf carrying frames pivotally supported on the frame, a substantially inverted U-shaped bracket carried by the frame, a latch element pivoted intermediate its ends to one leg of the bracket, stops carried by the ends of the bracket, adapted to alternately engage the leafcarrying frames to release the same singlyand a contractile spring having one end connected with one end of the latch element and its opposite end connected with the frame, and a flexible operating element connected with the opposite end of the latch element.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES F. ELLIOTT. 

